In the name of Anna, a new political party

Anti-corruption crusader Hazare's team to send legal notice to businessman from Nashik for floating political party called Rashtriya Hazaro Anna Party

What's in a name? Seemingly, a lot of political gain, if the name is Anna Hazare. Despite anti-graft crusader Anna Hazare warning people to steer clear of using his name or photograph for any political mileage, a businessman from Nashik, Dattaji Wagh (60), has gone ahead and floated a political party Rashtriya Hazaro Anna Party (RHAP).

Name game: Dattaji Wagh

He placed an advertisement about his new party in the local newspapers in Nashik three days ago. Though Hazare's legal consultant has decided to issue a legal notice to Wagh next week, so far Wagh has not received any kind of objection from Hazare or his Bhrashtachar Virodhi Jan Andolan Trust (BVJAT) for using Hazare's name indirectly.

Nashik, has placed an ad in newspapers announcing his party; activist Anna Hazare

"Anna should not oppose my party since we are all fighting for the same cause. Our fight is against corruption," said Wagh. In the advertisement, Wagh also stated that if Hazare decides to float a political party he would merge his party with it.

Wagh deals in precious and semi-precious stones. Claiming he had not violated any election code, he said: "I have registered the party name Rashtriya Hazaro Anna Party by officially filing papers with the Election Commission under section 29 C of the Public Representative Act of 1955. A notice of establishing the party has already been issued to the Election Commission."

Wagh said the party symbol was yet to be finalised. "So far, over 5,000 people have shown their keenness to register their names for RHAP, including some from the city. If people insist, our party shall also contest elections from the city. So far, three people have asked us to give tickets to contest election, and we shall do it systematically by inviting formal applications, and then decide after scrutiny and interviews. In Nashik we are contesting all 122 seats in the municipal elections," he said.

K T Pawar, president, BVJAT, Pune, objected to the party name. "The issue has been discussed with Hazare and a proper legal action shall be taken," said Pawar. Advocate Milind Pawar, legal consultant to Hazare, said, "We are issuing a legal notice to Wagh within a week. The issue was finalised on Tuesday late evening with Anna. We will ask Wagh to publish a public notice in newspapers saying there is no connection between RHAP and Hazare and his fight against corruption. Hazare shall not be responsible if he does anything wrong."